President Bola Tinubu has pledged to rebuild communities destroyed by years of violence in Plateau State and facilitate the return of residents displaced by attacks.
He assured indigenes and residents that his administration would work with the state government to restore peace and security.
The President also announced that surveillance cameras promised to the state in April had arrived in the country and would soon be installed.
He added that 1,000 forest guards recruited by the Federal Government were undergoing training for deployment to vulnerable areas.
Tinubu gave the assurances on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress North-Central campaign rally held at the 60,000-capacity Zaria Road Stadium in Jos, where he appealed to residents to support him and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Plateau State has witnessed a resurgence of violent attacks in recent months, particularly in rural communities and parts of Jos North Local Government Area.
The President assured displaced residents that his administration would work with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other leaders to rebuild affected communities and facilitate their return.
“When I last visited the other time, I was limited to the airport. Forgive me if you did not see me in the hinterland. I saw the devastation, I got the report from the government, I saw horror in the faces of our people.
“But since then, that has changed; we are forging ahead together. It is now that we can rebuild, and I assure those displaced that we will rebuild your communities, and we will bring you back to your communities.
“To our displaced families, the government is working to ease your suffering, to bring you back, to rebuild your communities. We will work with Governor Mutfwang and all leaders to rebuild those communities and take you back to settle in the comfort of where you belong,” Tinubu said.
On security, the President stated that he had directed security agencies to take decisive action to sustain peace and stability across the country.
He disclosed that the government was reinforcing security deployment, improving coordination among security agencies, and strengthening rapid response mechanisms.
“One thousand forest guards are undergoing training right now. You will feel secure in your villages and communities. The surveillance cameras are already procured, as I promised, to further strengthen early detection and early warning security operations,” he said.
The President commended Mutfwang for his efforts to promote peace in the state, noting that no government could achieve meaningful development amid persistent crises.
He urged residents to put aside their differences, insisting that variations in language and culture should not make people enemies.
“Since 2001, crises and attacks have inflicted deep wounds on Plateau State. Too many lives have been lost, homes destroyed, and communities displaced. To every bereaved family, every destroyed home, every survivor, and everyone unable to return home, I offer my condolences for the loss.
“We have to live together; we have to build this Plateau and country together. It is our responsibility to behave like brothers and sisters, belonging to the same God Almighty,” he added.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu cited his administration’s security commitments and development projects in the state as reasons residents should renew the APC’s mandate.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed that the creation of state police was in the pipeline as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to improve security nationwide.
Speaking at the rally, the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also cited the provision of surveillance cameras and forest guards as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to Plateau.
He listed other security infrastructure delivered to the state, including two army battalions, a brigade, and four security command centres.
Yilwatda also credited the administration with road projects and described Tinubu as a “promise keeper,” urging residents to demonstrate their appreciation at the ballot box.
In his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima credited the progress recorded in Plateau and across the country to what he described as Tinubu’s “transformational and courageous leadership,” calling the President a unique leader.
He praised Plateau residents for their contributions to the country in education, agriculture, the military, trade, culture, and sport, describing the people of the state as “a gift to the nation.”
Shettima urged voters to cast their ballots for Tinubu, Mutfwang, and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
Welcoming the President to Jos, Mutfwang described Plateau as a home of peace and tourism and a state with a significant place in Nigeria’s political history.
He thanked Tinubu for Federal Government support in road infrastructure, education, and healthcare, saying his administration had been engaged in explaining the impact of federal initiatives to residents and was confident that continued cooperation would benefit the state.
House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas urged voters to re-elect Tinubu and Mutfwang, challenging residents to compare the infrastructure and projects delivered by previous governments with those of the current administration.
The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, praised the administration’s economic management, arguing that increased Federal Government revenue would give governments at all levels more resources to deliver public services.
He said the President deserved a second term.
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